ACORNS has created nearly 60 new jobs for female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, according to the latest results from the programme’s 11th cycle. The initiative, which is now in its 12th year, has supported around 600 female founders since it was first established, with the most recent cohort demonstrating continued momentum for early-stage businesses outside urban centres.
Growth in rural enterprises
The combined annual turnover for the 53 participants increased from €4.1 million to almost €6 million during the six-month period. Nine of the participants began trading for the first time while enrolled in the scheme, and a further four established themselves as exporters. This commercial progress was achieved over a relatively compressed timeframe, with participants balancing the demands of daily operations with the structured learning and peer engagement that the programme requires. The fact that several businesses moved from pre-revenue to active trading during the cycle, while others expanded into international markets, points to the practical focus of the curriculum and the accountability that regular round-table meetings provide.
Now in its 12th year, the initiative supports early-stage founders. The program is run by Fitzsimons Consulting and operates on the principle that entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. Participants meet monthly in round-table sessions led by Lead Entrepreneurs who have experience growing businesses in rural areas. These facilitators bring hands-on knowledge of scaling ventures in regional settings, where supply chains, talent pools, and customer bases often present distinct challenges compared to metropolitan environments. The structure is deliberately built around shared experience rather than formal lectures, with each session encouraging open discussion of obstacles, solutions, and strategies that have worked in practice. The ACORNS model is based on the premise that founders at a similar stage of development can offer each other relevant, actionable insights that generic business advice may not capture.
Feedback from the 53 participants shows a high level of satisfaction. All of them said they would recommend the programme to others, with 98% feeling closer to achieving their business ambitions. Almost 95% reported that their participation led to practical changes within their operations. This could include refining pricing structures, adjusting marketing approaches, restructuring day-to-day workflows, or introducing new systems for managing finances and customer relationships. The consistency of the feedback — with near-universal willingness to endorse the programme — suggests that the value derived is not limited to a small subset of participants but is experienced broadly across different sectors and business models. The practical changes reported indicate that the round-table discussions translate into concrete actions, rather than remaining theoretical.
Support network and clarity
ACORNS Lead Entrepreneur Karen Kerrigan of Kerrigan’s Mushrooms highlighted the social aspect of the programme. She said the structure creates a supportive environment where women encourage one another and share experiences, helping them realize they do not have to face challenges alone. Kerrigan, who has firsthand experience of building a successful agri-food business in a rural area, noted that running a business can sometimes be an isolating experience, particularly for founders who do not have a wider team or nearby peers in similar circumstances. The monthly gatherings are designed to counteract that isolation by building a consistent, trusted group where participants can speak openly about difficulties as well as achievements. Over the course of six months, these relationships typically deepen, with participants following each other’s progress and offering support between sessions.
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Feedback from past participants like Kel Galavan of Mrs Smart Money also emphasizes the value of the group dynamic. Galavan said the programme provided clarity around every aspect of her business and introduced her to many inspiring women who acted as pillars of support. For founders juggling multiple responsibilities, the structured format of ACORNS forces a regular pause to assess progress, identify weak points, and set priorities. Galavan’s experience reflects a common pattern among participants: the combination of peer accountability and facilitated discussion helps founders see their businesses more objectively, making it easier to make decisions that had been postponed. The encouragement she described is not generic cheerleading but practical reinforcement from women who understand the specific pressures of running a rural enterprise.
There is no charge for those selected for ACORNS 12, which runs from October 2026 to April 2027. The programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund, with the Lead Entrepreneurs contributing their time on a voluntary basis. This funding model removes cost as a barrier to entry, ensuring that participation is open to any eligible founder regardless of her financial circumstances. The voluntary contribution of the Lead Entrepreneurs also reflects the collaborative ethos of the programme, with experienced businesswomen giving back to the next generation of rural founders.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon encouraged eligible entrepreneurs to apply for the 50 available places. Applications close at midnight on Friday, September 18. The programme is open to early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland who generated sales no earlier than the end of June 2023, ensuring that the cohort is composed of businesses still in their formative phase. Given the level of interest in previous cycles and the limited number of places, prospective applicants are advised to complete the registration process well before the deadline.
Those interested must first register via the official website before receiving an application form by email. The registration process is straightforward and serves as the gateway to the full application, which allows the organisers to assess each founder’s business stage, sector, and goals to build a balanced and diverse cohort for the upcoming cycle.
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